Distribution panel

ABSTRACT

Provided is a distribution panel. The distribution panel includes a main busbar compartment in which a main busbar is provided and which is provided as an independent space and an arc duct provided at a rear side of the main busbar compartment to discharge an arc generated in the main busbar compartment. The main busbar compartment includes a communication hole defied in one surface of the main busbar to allow the main busbar compartment to communicate with the arc duct and a relief device rotatably provided on one side of the communication hole to open or close the communication hole. The relief device is bendable in multi stages. Thus, the arc may be effectively discharged while reducing a size of the distribution panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0020002, filed onFeb. 20, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a distribution panel. Particularly,the present disclosure relates to a structure in which an arc is easilydischarged even in a narrow space when the arc is generated in a mainbusbar compartment.

Distribution panels are equipment that receives power to supply thepower to load equipment installed in each power receiver.

Such a distribution panel may monitor, control, and protect a powersystem, and electronic equipment such as a circuit breaker, a currenttransformer, a power transformer, and the like may be accommodated inthe distribution panel so as to be used.

In the distribution panel, the circuit breaker (CB), the currenttransformer (CT), the power transformer (PT), a main busbar, and thelike may be accommodated in a cabinet. Also, a PT compartment, in whichthe PT is accommodated, a CB compartment, in which the CB isaccommodated, a main busbar compartment, in which the main busbar isaccommodated, and a cable compartment, in which a cable is accommodated,may be provided in independent spaces of the distribution panel.

An arc may be generated in three-phase short circuit in the distributionpanel. Since the distribution panel has a sealed inner structure, in thecase in which the arc is not properly discharged when the arc isgenerated, for example, a member of a door of the distribution panel maybe separated due to the high pressure of the arc to make loss of lives.

Thus, generally, the distribution panel is provided with a relief deviceand an arc duct, which easily discharge the arc when the arc isgenerated.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a distribution panel according to the relatedart. In a distribution panel 1 a according to the related art, when anarc is generated in a main busbar compartment 50 a, a passagecommunicating with the arc duct 70 a may be opened due to rotation ofthe relief device 80 a to discharge the arc to the arc duct 70 a.

However, in the case of the relief device provided in the main busbarcompartment 50 a according to the related art, it is necessary to securea front and rear width of the arc duct 70 a at a predetermined distanceso that the relief device 80 a is sufficiently opened while being openedtoward the arc duct 70 a.

Thus, the overall size of the distribution panel 1 a may increase forthe front and rear width of the arc duct 70 a that is necessary for theoperation of the relief device 80 a. Therefore, it is difficult tominiaturize the product.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a distribution panel, which facilitates discharge ofan arc while reducing a front and rear width of an arc duct to realizeminiaturization because a relief device is rotatably provided in multistages.

In one embodiment, a distribution panel includes: a main busbarcompartment in which a main busbar is provided and which is provided asan independent space; and an arc duct provided at a rear side of themain busbar compartment to discharge an arc generated in the main busbarcompartment, wherein the main busbar compartment includes: acommunication hole defied in one surface of the main busbar to allow themain busbar compartment to communicate with the arc duct; and a reliefdevice rotatably provided on one side of the communication hole to openor close the communication hole, wherein the relief device is bendablein multi stages.

The relief device may include: an upper cover covering an upper portionof the communication hole; a lower cover provided on a lower end of theupper cover to cover a lower portion of the communication hole; a coverconnection part rotatably connecting the upper cover to the lower cover;and a main hinge rotatably connecting the lower cover to the main busbarcompartment.

The cover connection part may include a hinge.

The relief device may further include a fixing member provided on anupper edge of the upper cover to connect the upper cover to the mainbusbar compartment.

Each of the upper cover and the lower cover may have a vertical lengthless than a forward and backward length of the arc duct.

Each of the cover connection part and the main hinge may be provided ina pair, which are spaced apart from each other in a left and rightdirection, and the fixing member may be disposed at a positioncorresponding to a space between the pair of cover connection parts orthe pair of main hinges.

The sum of the vertical length of the upper cover and the verticallength of the lower cover may be greater than the forward and backwardlength of the arc duct.

The upper cover may have a rounded upper end.

A roller may be provided on an upper end of the upper cover.

The cover connection part may be rotatable at an angle of about 360degrees.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a relief device of a distributionpanel according to a related art.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the relief device of the distributionpanel according to the related art.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a distribution panel according to anembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a relief device of the distributionpanel according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which an arc is generated in amain busbar compartment according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which an upper cover is openedaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the upper cover and alower cover are opened according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, that alternate embodimentsincluded in other retrogressive inventions or falling within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure will fully convey the concept of theinvention to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a distribution panel according to anembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, a distribution panel 1 according to an embodimentmay include a cabinet 10 having an inner space and defining an outerappearance of the distribution panel 1.

The cabinet 10 may include a base 11, a side body 12 disposed above thebase 11 to define a side surface of the cabinet 10, a rear body 13disposed above the base 11 to define a rear surface of the cabinet 10,and a top body disposed above the side body 12 and the rear body 13.

The side body 12 may be provided in a pair, and the pair of side bodies12 may be respectively disposed on both left and right sides of the base11.

Also, each of the base 11, the side body 12, the rear body 13, and thetop body 14 may be constituted by an assembly of a plurality of members.

The distribution panel 1 may include a power transformer, a circuitbreaker, a cable, a main busbar 51 in an inner space of the cabinet 10.

The inside of the cabinet 10 may be divided into a plurality ofcompartments. Also, the power transformer, the circuit breaker, thecable, and the main busbar 51 may be accommodated in the compartments,respectively. The compartment in which the power transformer isaccommodated may be called a power transformer compartment 20, thecompartment in which the circuit breaker is accommodated may be called acircuit breaker compartment 30, the compartment in which the cable isaccommodated may be called a cable compartment 40, and the compartmentin which the main busbar is accommodated may be called a main busbarcompartment 50.

The power transformer compartment 20 may be defined in a portion of afront side of the base 11. Also, the circuit breaker compartment 30 maybe provided above the power transformer compartment 20. Also, the cablecompartment 40 may be defined in a portion of a rear side of the base11. Also, the main busbar compartment 50 may be provided above the cablecompartment 40.

Also, a relay compartment 60 in which a relay for controlling thedistribution panel 1 is provided may be provided above the circuitbreaker compartment 30.

Thus, the power transformer compartment 20, the circuit breakercompartment 30, the relay compartment 60 may be provided in a relativelyfront side within the cabinet 10, and the main busbar compartment 50 andthe cable compartment 40 may be provided in a relatively rear sidewithin the cabinet 10.

A front surface of the cabinet 10 may be openable. The opened frontsurface of the cabinet 10 may be opened and closed by at least one frontdoor 15.

For example, each of front surfaces of the power transformer compartment20, the circuit breaker compartment 30, and the relay compartment 60,which are provided at the front of the cabinet 10, may be opened, andthe front door 15 may be disposed on each of the opened front surfaces.

The front door 15 opening and closing the circuit breaker compartment 30may rotate with respect to one side of left and right sides of thecabinet 10 to open and close the circuit breaker compartment 30.

The distribution panel 1 may include an arc duct 70 provided at a rearside of the main busbar compartment 50 to discharge the arc that may begenerated in the main busbar compartment 50.

A communication hole 52 (see FIG. 4) communicating with the arc duct 70may be defined in one side of the main busbar compartment 50. Also, arelief device 80 may be rotatably fixed to the communication hole 52 toopen and close the communication hole 52.

The relief device 80 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.4 to 7.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the relief device of thedistribution panel according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the relief device 80 according to an embodiment mayinclude an upper cover 81 covering a portion of an upper side of thecommunication hole 52, a lower cover 82 covering a portion a lower sideof the communication hole 52, a cover connection part 83 rotatablyconnecting the upper cover 81 to the lower cover 82, a main hinge 84rotatably connecting the lower cover 82 to the main busbar compartment50, and a fixing member 85 fixing the upper cover to the main busbarcompartment 50.

The upper cover 81 may have a size slightly greater than a half of theupper side of the communication hole 52 and have a rectangular shape.Also, the lower cover 82 may have a size slightly greater than the resthalf of the communication hole, which is not covered by the lower cover82, and have a rectangular shape. Thus, the communication hole 52 may becovered by the upper cover 81 and the lower cover 82.

However, the size and shape of each of the upper cover 81 and the lowercover 82 may be variously modified within a range in which thecommunication hole 52 is capable of being covered. For example, theupper cover 81 may have a size greater than that of the lower cover 82,or each of an upper end of the upper cover 81 and a lower end of thelower cover 82 may have a rounded shape. Thus, when the upper cover 81and the lower cover 82 are connected to each other, an outer appearancemay be provided in a circle shape.

The cover connection part 83 may rotatably connect a lower end of theupper cover 81 to an upper end of the lower cover 82. Particularly, thecover connection part 83 may be provided to be rotatable at an angle ofabout 180 degrees in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwisedirection when the upper cover 81 and the lower cover 82 are connectedin parallel to each other. Thus, the cover connection part 83 may rotateat an angle of about 360 degrees.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the cover connection part 83 may include ahinge. In this case, the cover connection part 83 may be called a subhinge.

However, this embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the coverconnection part 83 may include a wire having a thickness less than thatof each of the upper cover 81 and the lower cover 82. Also, for anotherexample, the cover connection part 83 may be made of a flexible materialhaving a thickness less than that of each of the upper cover 81 and thelower cover 82.

The main hinge 84 may connect the lower cover 82 to the main busbarcompartment 50. In more detail, the communication hole 52, which isopened forward and backward, may be defined in a rear plate of the mainbusbar compartment 50, and the main hinge 84 may rotatably connect thelower cover 82 to the main busbar compartment 50. In more detail, themain hinge 84 may rotatably connect a lower edge of the lower cover 82to a lower edge of the communication hole 52. The lower cover 82 mayrotate to only a rear side of the rear plate of the main busbarcompartment 50 but may not rotate to a front side of the rear plate.

In summary, the main hinge 84 may be disposed outside the main busbarcompartment 50, i.e., the lower end of the communication hole 52communicating with the arc duct 70 so that the lower cover 82 rotates tothe outside of the main busbar compartment 50.

The fixing member 85 may be disposed on an upper edge of the upper cover81 to fix the upper cover 81 to the main busbar compartment 50, moreparticularly, the rear plate of the main busbar compartment 50. Forexample, the fixing member 85 may have a wedge shape. Also, in a statein which the communication hole 52 is closed by the relief device 80, afixing hole may be defined in one side of the main busbar compartment 50corresponding to the position of the fixing member 85. In more detail,the fixing hole may be defined in the rear plate of the main busbarcompartment 50 so that the fixing member 85 is restricted to be hookedwith the fixing hole.

Thus, the upper cover 81 may be fixed when the fixing member 85partially passes through the fixing hole so as to be hooked. However,the fixing member 85 and the fixing hole may be provided at positionsopposite to each other. That is, the fixing member 85 may be disposed atone side of the main busbar compartment 50, and the fixing hole may bedefined in the upper side of the upper cover 81.

Each of the cover connection part 83 and the main hinge 84 may beprovided in plurality. For example, each of the cover connection part 83and the main hinge 84 may be provided in a pair, which are horizontallyspaced apart from each other. Also, the fixing member 85 may be disposedat a position corresponding to a space between the pair of coverconnection parts 83 and between the pair of main hinges 84.

Next, a process in which the relief device 80 is opened when the arc isgenerated in the main busbar compartment 50 will be described withreference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

Actually, when the fixing of the fixing member 85 is released by the arcin the main busbar compartment 50, the rotation of the upper cover 81and the lower cover 82 may be simultaneously performed by the coverconnection part 83 and the main hinge 84. However, for convenience ofthe description, an example, in which the upper cover 81 rotates, andthe lower cover 82 rotates after the fixing of the fixing member 85 isreleased, will be described.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the arc is generated inthe main busbar compartment according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a viewillustrating a state in which the upper cover is opened according to anembodiment. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the uppercover and the lower cover are opened according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, for example, when three-phase short circuit occursin the main busbar compartment 50, the arc may be generated. Also, ahigh pressure may be generated in the main busbar compartment 50 by thearc. The high pressure may apply force to the fixing member 85, which isrelatively weakly coupled, to release the fixing of the fixing member85.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the fixing of the fixing member 85 maybe released, and the upper cover 81 may rotate by using the coverconnection part 83 as an axis. Here, the upper cover 81 may rotate in acounterclockwise direction toward the arc duct 70 to open a portion ofthe upper portion of the communication hole 52.

Also, when the portion of the upper cover 81 is opened, the discharge ofthe pressure (the arc) within the main busbar compartment 50 may start.Thus, the lower cover 82 may also rotate in the counterclockwisedirection by the pressure as illustrated in FIG. 7. Also, the upper endof the upper cover 81 may contact the rear end of the arc duct 70 or therear body 13 (see FIG. 3) due to the rotation of the lower cover 82.Hereinafter, a case in which the upper end of the upper cover 81contacts the rear end of the arc duct 70 will be described as anexample.

Here, the sum (L1+L2) of vertical lengths of the upper cover 81 and thelower cover 82 may be greater than a forward and backward length W1 ofthe arc duct 70. In this case, each of the upper cover 81 and the lowercover 82 may be bent by the cover connection part 83. Here, the reliefdevice 80 may be bent upward as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Each of the vertical length L1 of the upper cover 81 and the verticallength L2 of the lower cover 82 may be less than the forward andbackward length W1 of the arc duct 70.

Next, the lower cover 82 may further rotate by the pressure due to thegravity and the arc in the counterclockwise direction by using the mainhinge 84 as the axis. Thus, the relief device 80 may be bent downward asillustrated in FIG. 7. Here, the upper cover 81 may vertically movealong a rear surface of the arc duct 70.

The upper end of the upper cover 81 may be rounded in a curved shape.Thus, when the upper end of the upper cover 81 contacts the rear side ofthe arc duct 70, a contact area may be reduced to reduce friction. Thus,in the arc duct 70, when the upper cover 81 contacts the rear side ofthe arc duct 70, the upper cover 81 may easily move.

Also, a rotatable roller (not shown) may be provided on the upper end ofthe upper cover 81. The roller may rotate by contacting the roller whenthe upper end of the upper cover 81 contacts the rear side of the arcduct. The roller may also facilitate the movement of the upper cover 81.

Also, each of vertical heights L1 and L2 of the upper cover 81 and thelower cover 82 may be less than the forward and backward length W1 ofthe arc duct 70. Thus, the upper cover 81 and the lower cover 82 mayrotate without being hooked with the arc duct 70.

When the arc is generated in the main busbar compartment 80 according tothe above-described processes, the upper cover 81 and the lower cover 82may rotate, and thus all the upper cover 81 and the lower cover 82 maymove to a lower side of the arc duct 70. Thus, an area by which thecommunication hole 52 and the arc duct 70 are connected to each other,i.e., an area through which the arc is discharged may be sufficientlysecured.

In addition, although the relief device 80 is constituted by the uppercover 81 and the lower cover 82 in this embodiment, the relief device 80may be divided into three or more covers, i.e., upper, intermediate, andlower covers or more.

The relief device 80 may have a structure, which is provided with theupper cover and the lower cover and rotatable in multi stages, to reducethe forward and backward length of the arc duct, thereby effectivelydischarging the arc while reducing the size of the distribution panel.

In addition, each of the upper cover and the lower cover may have thevertical length less than the forward and backward length of the arcduct to easily open the relief device.

Also, the sum of the vertical lengths of the upper cover and the lowercover may be greater than the forward and the backward length of the arcduct by the structure of the cover connection part. Thus, the size ofthe communication hole covered by the upper cover and the lower covermay be sufficiently large. Therefore, the arc may be more smoothlydischarged.

Also, the upper end of the upper cover may be rounded, or the roller maybe provided on the upper end of the upper cover to more easily open therelief device.

In addition, the forward and backward length of the arc duct may bereduced to effectively discharge the arc while reduce the size of thedistribution panel without changing designs of the power transformercompartment, the circuit breaker compartment, the relay compartment, thecable compartment, and the main busbar compartment.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Thus, the embodiment of the present disclosure is to be consideredillustrative, and not restrictive, and the technical spirit of thepresent disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiment.

Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, andall differences within the scope will be construed as being included inthe present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A distribution panel comprises: a main busbarcompartment in which a main busbar is provided and which is provided asan independent space; and an arc duct provided at a rear side of themain busbar compartment to discharge an arc generated in the main busbarcompartment, wherein the main busbar compartment comprises: acommunication hole defined in one surface of the main busbar compartmentto allow the main busbar compartment to communicate with the arc duct;and a relief device rotatably provided on one side of the communicationhole to open or close the communication hole, wherein the relief deviceis bendable in multi stages and comprises an upper cover covering anupper portion of the communication hole; a lower cover provided on alower end of the upper cover to cover a lower portion of thecommunication hole; a cover connection part rotatably connecting theupper cover to the lower cover; and a main hinge rotatably connectingthe lower cover to the main busbar compartment.
 2. The distributionpanel according to claim 1, wherein the cover connection part comprisesa hinge.
 3. The distribution panel according to claim 1, wherein therelief device further comprises a fixing member provided on an upperedge of the upper cover to connect the upper cover to the main busbarcompartment.
 4. The distribution panel according to claim 3, whereineach of the cover connection part and the main hinge is provided in apair, which are spaced apart from each other in a left and rightdirection, and the fixing member is disposed at a position correspondingto a space between the pair of cover connection parts or the pair ofmain hinges.
 5. The distribution panel according to claim 1, whereineach of the upper cover and the lower cover has a vertical length lessthan a forward and backward length of the arc duct.
 6. The distributionpanel according to claim 5, wherein the sum of the vertical length ofthe upper cover and the vertical length of the lower cover is greaterthan the forward and backward length of the arc duct.
 7. Thedistribution panel according to claim 1, wherein the upper cover has arounded upper end.
 8. The distribution panel according to claim 1,wherein a roller is provided on an upper end of the upper cover.
 9. Thedistribution panel according to claim 1, wherein the cover connectionpart is rotatable at an angle of about 360 degrees.